Gone Girl

Story Sent in by Sigrid:

After dinner and a holiday light show, I was about ready to call it a night with Robert. I had had a nice time, but I was tired and had to be up early the next morning. As we strolled back toward our cars in the parking lot, I told him that I had a nice time.

"The date doesn't have to end," he told me.

I explained to him that I had that early day to follow, but that I hoped to see him again.

"That your way of telling me you don't want to see me again?" he asked.

I replied, "No. It's the truth."

He laughed. "I've been down this road before. The girl says, 'I'll see you soon,' and then she never returns my calls. Ha ha. No. The date's not over."

I stopped being fun and understanding and became a bit serious and impatient. "I really need to go home. It has nothing to do with you."

"Then let's keep it going! Where to next?"

"Home."

"Okay. I'll follow you home."

"No. I'm going to my home, you're going to your home."

"Okay. Like to change clothes or something? And then we'll meet up again afterward? The date's not ending. Not now, not ever. Not letting you out of my sight."

I said, "Now that you mention it, I would love some coffee. That will help to keep me awake with you for the rest of the night."

He was overjoyed and nearly fell over himself to suggest places. "There's a Starbucks in Cape Girardeau. Okay. Or there's a cool indie place about five miles away. Okay. Okay. Are you ready? You want to go now?"

I said, "Sure! I don't know where any of those places are."

"Follow me!" he said, and without waiting for anything else, he jumped into his car. I climbed into mine and followed him.

...for a little bit.

Somehow, I "lost" him while on the way. Too bad. He called me and left messages to ask where I was, but I somehow didn't find the time to call him back. Then I fell asleep, and then I woke up the next morning and life just sort of fell in the way of me ever contacting him again.